Local government in Scotland is evolving—and the Duties and Powers Project is at the heart of that change. What began as a mapping exercise has evolved into a strategic lever for reform, says Hannah Brown, Transformation Project Manager at the Improvement Service.
Why duties and powers? Why now?
Local authorities across Scotland are navigating increasingly complex landscapes but, until now, there has been no common register of the statutory and discretionary duties and powers that underpin their work. This gap has made it difficult to align transformation efforts, share learning, or even speak a common language across councils.
The Duties and Powers Portal changes that. More than a database, it will be a dynamic interface, giving decision-makers a single entry point to explore local government responsibilities. It’s designed to clarify legal frameworks, highlight pain points, and surface opportunities for reform.
From mapping to mobilising
This project began as a mapping exercise. Today, it’s a strategic lever for sector-wide transformation, with two clear aims:
- Build a shared understanding of the duties and powers councils hold.
- Develop actionable change propositions to help leaders reimagine service delivery.
These aims are grounded in real-world experience—shaped by peer reviews, professional association input, and collaborative design. For example, recent work on Public Information Notices (PINS) has already sparked interest from councils keen to pilot digital approaches, showing how sector-led momentum can drive innovation.
Collaboration at the core
The success of this project rests on collaboration and co-design. Efforts have been shaped by peer reviews, ideation workshops, and targeted consultations - with stakeholders both internally and externally contributing valuable insights. We’ve also leaned into interdependencies with the wider transformation work - recognising that progress doesn’t happen in silos.
What’s next?
As we prepare for the portal launch and refine the candidate list for change propositions, focus is on:
- Validation and peer review with professional organisations, including legal input.
- Ensuring the portal is actionable, supporting councils to test and scale new delivery models.
- Refining the methodology for progressing change propositions.
- Preparing for further engagement, including professional association briefings and sector-wide communications campaigns.